I currently have a 1985 Dodge Ram W100 with a Slant 6, 4 Speed Manual, 4x4 and I bought an old plow truck, a 1988 Ram 250 that has a 318 V8 2 barrel carb, automatic Transmission, 4x4.

I want to know if I could put the 1988 318 in my 1985 Dodge Ram. (only the engine, I want to keep the Manual transmission in the 1985)

I noticed the 318 has an Electric Fuel Pump, and I was wondering if anyone has ever done this, I want to know if the wiring harnesses will match up as well.

Any thoughts. comments, or ideas are greatly appreciated!
Thanks,

Keeping the manual will require you to find a V8 flywheel and bellhousing to match your trans. Otherwise most everything from the V8 truck should bolt in. The engine wiring harness from the '88 might fit the '85, but I don't know. The 318 should have had a mechanical pump originally. I would put a mechanical pump back on if possible.

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Joshua

Thanks for the good news, I hope this works out.
I have the service manual for the 85 and i am getting the service manual for the 88, so that should help a lot.

I'll post the results!

Check the manuals close,I'm no expert on the years,but,I had a 90 318 that was in the tank fuel pump,is that what your 88 is? If it is then is it really a 2barrel or a 2hole TBI? If thats the case then you might need to change the dizzy as it might be a "computer"controlled ign system.I believe TBI started in 88 so switching to a carb might be in order also unless you're up to a rewire/computer swap. I'm up for being corrected if off base here,plus I don't mind learning myself,Good luck

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

Man, I forgot about TBI! That may very well kill this swap. I hope the original poster was right about it being a carb.

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Joshua

I do believe that the fuel pump is in the tank, because I cannot find any fuel pump under the hood, also I can hear it run when I turn the ignition to the on position.

It could be TBI though, (I am not positive it is a carb, I also forgot about TBI)

Can anyone give me a good method to tell the difference between a carb and TBI?

Josh,ok, for my learning curve as well as lavacoin,couldn't he just swap to carb an proper manifold? as well as a older better dizzy?Plus if 85 is leanburner would need some snip/snip ign changes? Lavacoin,should be a couple of black plastic caps showing right on top of throat if its TBI.

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

If it is an 88 with a 318 and it has not been screwed with in these last 20 years it IS TBI; just like the Magnums, the TBI 318 was a year ahead of the TBI 360.
If I were to do that swap I'd definitely swap that TBI setup for a real carb and intake, as my 88 D 100 was hands down, without a doubt the WORST vehicle I have ever had MPG wise; typically about 8.
And you would not believe the $$$ I spent trying to improve that number because I liked the truck otherwise; and wound up selling it because I was tired of spending money that did not do me any good.
New computer, new injectors rebuilt the engine (the mach shop did claim that both heads were cracked though I had no signs of it in the engine's driveability or fluid usage; I replaced them during the rebuild) true dual exhaust, (w-o cat cons) swapped from a 904 to a 518, every sensor (some multiple times) and more.
My full time '79 4X4 Ramcharger and my 78 360 powered D 300 dually were even better than that! (and alot better)
Maybe it was just a reminder to avoid "1st year" new gizmos on vehicles or 1st year all-new models.
All that said, depending on what he wants from that truck, he might be better to beef up the /6 than to do the swap to a V8.

Yes, he can swap the manifold and distributor. Might have to put an electric fuel pump on the '85. I'd see if there is a fuel pump eccentric on the end of the cam and if there is I'd run a mechanical fuel pump.

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Joshua

Doing a 318 swap in a truck would be simpler than doing it in a car, but really a 318 isn't just a plug and play deal like it is with a chevy or ford. To me it seems like a lot of work for a little gain.

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If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

Well, it's really not a little gain. If you are comparing a stock 225 with a stock 318 is isn't even close. I had a '74 Dodge D100 with a good running 225. My heavier '72 B300 van with a stock 318 would kick the cr@p out of the slant. More importantly it would tow more at a reasonable speed.

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Joshua

My cousin had an '88 Ramcharger with the TBI 318 in it. It was without a doubt the biggest pig I ever drove. If that wasn't bad enough, he put 33's on it and made it even worse.

The early TBI needed a little refinement I believe.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Judging by what you guys are saying, it looks like the best option is to put a carb on it, I am going to look into that

Very easy; 87-older intake or aftermarket (Weiand Edelbrock etc) AND distributor-as that one ONLY works with the EFI-no vac or mechanical advance capabilities. but you still gotta get a bellhousuing clutch and flywheel at a minimum to make it work

I already have a clutch, I am buying a new one, just because I dont want to have to change it later, and would I be correct in saying that the rest really wont be that hard to find?

BTW does anyone know if I could mount a mechanical fuel pump to the '88 318? Or is the electric the only way to do it?